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(a)
These Rules shall apply to all vessels upon the high seas and in all waters connected therewith navigable by seagoing vessels.
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(b)
Nothing in these Rules shall interfere with the operation of special rules made by an appropriate authority for roadsteads, harbours, rivers, lakes or inland waterways connected with the high seas and navigable by sea-going vessels if such special rules conform as closely as possible to these Rules.
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(c)
Nothing in these Rules shall interfere with the operation of any special rules made by the government of any state with respect to additional station or signal lights, shapes or whistle signals for ships of war and vessels proceeding under convoy, or with respect to additional station or signal lights or shapes for fishing vessels engaged in fishing as a fleet. These additional station or signal lights, shapes or whistle signals shall, so far as possible, be such that they cannot be mistaken for any light, shape or signal authorized elsewhere under these Rules.
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(d)
Traffic separation schemes may be adopted by the Organization for the purpose of these Rules.
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(e)
Where the Government concerned determines that a vessel of special construction or purpose cannot comply fully with the provisions of any of these Rules with respect to the number, position, range or arc of visibility of lights or shapes, as well as to the disposition and characteristics of sound-signalling appliances, the vessel shall comply with such other provisions in regard to the number, position, range or arc of visibility of lights or shapes, as well as to the disposition and characteristics of sound-signalling appliances as the Government determines to be the closest possible compliance with these Rules in respect of that vessel.
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(a)
Nothing in these Rules shall exonerate any vessel, or the owner, master or crew thereof, from the consequences of any neglect to comply with these Rules or of the neglect of any precaution which may be required by the ordinary practice of seamen, or by the special circumstances of the case.
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(b)
In construing and complying with these Rules due regard shall be had to all dangers of navigation and collision and to any special circumstances, including the limitations of the vessels involved, which may make a departure from these Rules necessary to avoid immediate danger.
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For the purpose of these Rules, except where the context otherwise requires:
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(f)
The term vessel not under command means a vessel which through some exceptional circumstance is unable to manoeuvre as required by these Rules and is therefore unable to keep out of the way of another vessel.
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(g)
The term vessel restricted in her ability to manoeuvre means a vessel which from the nature of her work is restricted in her ability to manoeuvre as required by these Rules and is therefore unable to keep out of the way of another vessel.
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(n)
For the purposes of these Rules, the definition of the word “vessel” in paragraph (a) does not apply.
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(f)
(i) A vessel which, by any of these Rules, is required not to impede the passage or safe passage of another vessel shall, when required by the circumstances of the case, take early action to allow sufficient sea room for the safe passage of the other vessel.
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(d)
Any subsequent alteration of the bearing between the two vessels shall not make the overtaking vessel a crossing vessel within the meaning of these Rules or relieve her of the duty of keeping clear of the overtaken vessel until she is finally past and clear.
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(b)
The Rules concerning lights shall be complied with from sunset to sunrise, and during such times no other lights shall be exhibited, except such lights as cannot be mistaken for the lights specified in these Rules or do not impair their visibility or distinctive character, or interfere with the keeping of a proper look-out.
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(c)
The lights prescribed by these Rules shall, if carried, also be exhibited from sunrise to sunset in restricted visibility and may be exhibited in all other circumstances when it is deemed necessary.
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(e)
The lights and shapes specified in these Rules shall comply with the provisions of Annex I to these Regulations.
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The lights prescribed in these Rules shall have an intensity as specified in section 8 of Annex I to these Regulations so as to be visible at the following minimum ranges:
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(c)
A sailing vessel underway may, in addition to the lights prescribed in paragraph (a) of this Rule, exhibit at or near the top of the mast, where they can best be seen, two all-round lights in a vertical line, the upper being red and the lower green, but these lights shall not be exhibited in conjunction with the combined lantern permitted by paragraph (b) of this Rule.
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(i) three all-round lights in a vertical line where they can best be seen. The highest and lowest of these lights shall be red and the middle light shall be white,
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(ii) three shapes in a vertical line where they can best be seen. The highest and lowest of these shapes shall be balls and the middle one a diamond,
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(f)
A vessel engaged in mineclearance operations shall, in addition to the lights prescribed for a power-driven vessel in Rule 23 or to the lights or shape prescribed for a vessel at anchor in Rule 30 as appropriate, exhibit three all-round green lights or three balls. One of these lights or shapes shall be exhibited near the foremast head and one at each end of the fore yard. These lights or shapes indicate that it is dangerous for another vessel to approach within 1 000 metres of the mineclearance vessel.
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(a)
The word whistle means any sound signalling appliance capable of producing the prescribed blasts and which complies with the specifications in Annex III to these Regulations.
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(a)
A vessel of 12 metres or more in length shall be provided with a whistle, a vessel of 20 metres or more in length shall be provided with a bell in addition to a whistle, and a vessel of 100 metres or more in length shall, in addition, be provided with a gong, the tone and sound of which cannot be confused with that of the bell. The whistle, bell and gong shall comply with the specification in Annex III to these Regulations. The bell or gong or both may be replaced by other equipment having the same respective sound characteristics, provided that manual sounding of the prescribed signals shall always be possible.
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(a)
When vessels are in sight of one another, a power-driven vessel underway, when manoeuvring as authorized or required by these Rules, shall indicate that manoeuvre by the following signals on her whistle:
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(g)
Notwithstanding paragraph (a), in the waters of the Great Lakes Basin, when power-driven vessels are in sight of one another and meeting or crossing at a distance within half a mile of each other, each vessel underway, when manoeuvring as authorized or required by these Rules
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If necessary to attract the attention of another vessel any vessel may make light or sound signals that cannot be mistaken for any signal authorized elsewhere in these Rules, or may direct the beam of her searchlight in the direction of the danger, in such a way as not to embarrass any vessel. Any light to attract the attention of another vessel shall be such that it cannot be mistaken for any aid to navigation. For the purpose of this Rule the use of high intensity intermittant or revolving lights, such as strobe lights, shall be avoided.
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Any vessel (or class of vessels) provided that she complies with the requirements of the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, 1960, the keel of which is laid or which is at a corresponding stage of construction before the entry into force of these Regulations is exempted from compliance therewith as follows:
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(a)
The installation of lights with ranges prescribed in Rule 22, until four years after the date of entry into force of these Regulations.
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(b)
The installation of lights with colour specifications as prescribed in section 7 of Annex I to these Regulations, until four years after the date of entry into force of these Regulations.
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(ii) The repositioning of masthead lights on vessels of 150 metres or more in length, resulting from the prescriptions of section 3(a) of Annex I, until nine years after the date of entry into force of these Regulations.
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(e)
The repositioning of masthead lights resulting from the prescriptions of section 2(b) of Annex I, until nine years after the date of entry into force of these Regulations.
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(f)
The repositioning of sidelights resulting from the prescriptions of sections 2(g) and 3(b) of Annex I, until nine years after the date of entry into force of these Regulations.
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(g)
The requirements for sound signal appliances prescribed in Annex III, until nine years after the date of entry into force of these Regulations.
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(c)
Subject to paragraph (h), an exploration or exploitation vessel, when stationary and engaged in drilling or production operations, shall, in lieu of the lights or shapes required by these Rules, exhibit where it can best be seen from any direction a white light or a series of white lights located at an equal height above the water and operating in unison, which light or lights shall
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2 Vertical positioning and spacing of lights — International
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(i) on a vessel of 20 metres in length or more, such lights shall be spaced not less than two metres apart, and the lowest of these lights shall, except where a towing light is required, be placed at a height of not less than four metres above the hull,
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(p)
Notwithstanding subparagraph (i)(i), in the waters of the Great Lakes Basin, where a vessel of 20 metres in length or more is required to carry two or three lights in a vertical line, these lights may be spaced not less than one metre apart, and the lowest of these lights shall, except where a towing light is required, be placed at a height of not less than four metres above the hull.
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3 Horizontal Positioning and Spacing of Lights — International
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(c)
When the lights prescribed in Rule 27(b)(i) or Rule 28 are placed vertically between the forward masthead light(s) and the after masthead light(s) these all-round lights shall be placed at a horizontal distance of not less than two metres from the fore and aft centreline of the vessel in the athwartship direction.
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4 Details of location of direction-indicating lights for fishing vessels, dredgers and vessels engaged in underwater operations
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(b)
The lights and shapes on a vessel engaged in dredging or underwater operations to indicate the obstructed side and/or the side on which it is safe to pass, as prescribed in Rule 27(d)(i) and (ii), shall be placed at the maximum practical horizontal distance, but in no case less than two metres, from the lights or shapes prescribed in Rule 27(b)(i) and (ii). In no case shall the upper of these lights or shapes be at a greater height than the lower of the three lights or shapes prescribed in Rule 27(b)(i) and (ii).
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10 Vertical Sectors — International
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(c)
In the case of lights other than electric these specifications shall be met as closely as possible.
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1 General
The lights mentioned herein shall, if exhibited in pursuance of Rule 26(d), be placed where they can best be seen. They shall be at least 0.9 metre apart but at a lower level than lights prescribed in Rule 26(b)(i) and (c)(i). The lights shall be visible all round the horizon at a distance of at least one mile but at a lesser distance than the lights prescribed by these Rules for fishing vessels.
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3 Signals for purse seiners
Vessels engaged in fishing with purse seine gear may exhibit two yellow lights in a vertical line. These lights shall flash alternately every second and with equal light and occultation duration. These lights may be exhibited only when the vessel is hampered by its fishing gear.
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